PINDA Probe Failure
So i just finished a long (50+ hour) print last night and upon trying to start a new one, my printer halted and presented a "z-probe failure" error message. I checked my wiring and power cycled the printer and got the same result. The light on the probe no longer comes on and it appears to be totally dead 😥
I've been running my printer almost non-stop since upgrading, but it's pretty disappointing to have this failure so soon. I've reached out to Prusa support who required a video of my printer so they could see the plug and also that the probe wasn't on, but I haven't heard anything about mailing a replacement yet. Wanted to see if anyone else has had anything like this happen to them?
Re: PINDA Probe Failure
Is there a way to check to see if there is any power coming to the pinda? I guess it would be an idea to see if it is the pinda or the rambo? A software reflash maybe?
Re: PINDA Probe Failure
I swapped the PINDA with another endstop and still didn't get power on the probe, so i'm fairly confident it's the probe and not the RAMBO
Re: PINDA Probe Failure
Kevin when you say you swapped your Pinda for another endstop, do you mean another Pinda sensor? Your comment above implies a faulty Rambo board. Or connection issues with the sensor. ie connector
Nigel
Life is keeping interested and excited by knowledge and new things.
Re: PINDA Probe Failure
Nigel - I connected the PINDA probe to the Y-endstop pins on the Rambo (which works for the y endstop) and had the same issue with the probe, so i believe the problem is with the probe itself and not the board. Still haven't heard back from PR on a replacement yet :/
Re: PINDA Probe Failure
Kevin. Ok fair enough. Keep us posted on eventual outcome. Just one question how is the PINDA sensor programmed in the firmware? I have not looked at the source code recently. You plugging into the Y endstop, and probing the bed inductive inserts manually? We are talking about a sensor that detects the metal inserts inductively in the printbed and the Z axis. and programmed in the firmware. You seem way off with your diagnosis!
Nigel
Life is keeping interested and excited by knowledge and new things.
Re: PINDA Probe Failure
Nigel,
All he would need to do is hold a piece of metal to the probe to see if it triggers.
Re: PINDA Probe Failure
Ok Richard thanks for the reply. I stand corrected, but am confused by the original problem and diagnosis. The PINDA sensor, is it an all or nothing detector of metal? The current firmware 3.06 probes and then micro probes. So firmware controlled.
What metal did he use, copper, aluminium Richard?
Nigel
Life is keeping interested and excited by knowledge and new things.
Re: PINDA Probe Failure
The probe is only on/off detector, something like electronic switch. Firmware calibration process scans the area to see where it triggers, then averages measured positions to get best estimate of calibration point.
It is induction probe, so the metal has to be responsive to magnetic field - iron, steel. Definitely not aluminium. For example use steel pliers or screwdriver supplied with the printer.
Re: PINDA Probe Failure
Thanks David. I should have been more clear in my response.
Re: PINDA Probe Failure
Err...the material does NOT need to be magnetic, rather needs to be able to have a current induced in it (hence inductive sensor). Aluminum will work just fine.
For the record i used an allen wrench, since it was laying right next to my printer 😀
Re: PINDA Probe Failure
Yeah, think metal detector. I have dug up many ring pulls, when expecting Roman coins...
Peter
Please note: I do not have any affiliation with Prusa Research. Any advices given are offered in good faith. It is your responsibility to ensure that by following my advice you do not suffer or cause injury, damage…
Re: PINDA Probe Failure
Thanks for the info everyone. I am now more informed. I never took up the hobby of detectoring or a detectorist. 🙂 (See the UK TV comedy Detectorists.... written by and starring Mackenzie Crook and also starring Toby Jones)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4082744/
Nigel
Life is keeping interested and excited by knowledge and new things.
Re: PINDA Probe Failure
Just wanted to follow up and mention that PR shipped me a replacement probe free of charge within 2 days of my original message and after about 20 minutes of work/calibration, i am printing again! 1 week from breakdown to back in service, not bad for a company all the way in Prague 😛
Thanks for the support and great customer service, i don't care what those other posters say about you 😀 😆 😎